Patrick Johnston/MSU Athletics

Sophomore outfielder Megan Chartier became the first MSU player to amass five hits in a game last Friday at Southwestern Oklahoma.

Softball 4/12/2011 6:00:00 AM MSU Sports Information

Game Day: #2 Mustangs take on Texas Woman's Tuesday night in Denton

Setting the Stage

No. 2 Midwestern State takes on Texas Woman's University in a non-divisional doubleheader between a pair of Lone Star Conference squads Tuesday afternoon at Pioneer Field.

The LSC North leading Mustangs (38-4) rolls into the twin bill having won their last three games and 11 of the last 12 including a sweep of Southwestern Oklahoma State last weekend.

Texas Woman's University snapped out of an 0-6 showing at the LSC Crossover by taking two out of three from Abilene Christian last weekend in Denton.

First pitch for the twin bill is set for 4 p.m.

Where to Find the Game

Live Stats - Live stats are available courtesy of TWUAthletics.com Link

Mustangs Quick Notes

(Last Week) Midwestern State notched its second LSC North Division sweep in three series last weekend at Southwestern Oklahoma. It was the Mustangs' 18th clean sweep since joining the division in 2004. Midwestern is now 124-45 (.735) against the LSC North Division since adding softball prior to the 2004 season.

(This Week) The Mustangs step out of LSC North Division play to take on Texas Woman's in a twin bill Tuesday night at Pioneer Field in Denton. MSU returns to division contests with a three-game set against Central Oklahoma with a single game Friday and a twin bill Saturday at Mustangs Park.

(MSU climbs to new heights nationally) Midwestern State claimed the highest national ranking in program history when it moved to No. 2 in the National Fast-pitch Coaches' Association Top 25 this week. The Mustangs also received a first-place vote for the first time since the softball program was reformed in 2004. MSU finished the 2010 regular season ranked No. 3 before regaining the position a week ago. The NFCA releases this week's poll Wednesday morning.

(Mustangs top region) Midwestern State moved past Angelo State to claim the top spot in the NCAA II South Central Region rankings, but the Mustangs are just one of six Lone Star Conference squads in the ranking including No. 2 Angelo State, No. 5 West Texas A&M, No. 7 Central Oklahoma, No. 8 Southeastern Oklahoma and No. 10 East Central. The new region rankings are set for release Wednesday afternoon.

(MSU tops major categories) Midwestern State rolled up a prodigious 46 hits in 100 at bats over the weekend to extend its LSC leading team batting average to .356. The Mustangs are also tops in the circle by quite some distance with a 1.14 ERA far ahead of East Central's 2.09 mark. MSU also owns the top team fielding percentage in the league at .970.

(Shutting the down) Midwestern State's Brittney Tanner and Kristina Gutierrez are tied for the national lead with 10 shutouts each and combined to lead NCAA Division II with 20. The mark easily stands as a school record, but the duo is creeping up on a pair of Lone Star Conference marks. Southeastern Oklahoma set the team record with 22 blankings in 2000, while SOSU's Starla Payne (2000) and Christina Cearley (2003) share the individual mark with 14 shutouts.

(Ks 'r Us) Midwestern State duo Brittney Tanner and Kristina Gutierrez have combined for 398 strikeouts to lead NCAA Division II and is on pace to take over the program record set in 2010 when the Tanner and Gutierrez combined with Katie Petersen to fan 535 batters.

(3 Megan Chartier) The Lone Star Conference North Division Hitter of the Week nominee matched a Lone Star Conference record while setting the MSU single-game standard by going 5-for-5 in Friday's 7-2 win at Southwestern Oklahoma. The sophomore outfielder went 9-for-12 (.750) during the weekend series with three runs and two stolen bases. The Gatesville High product is hitting .591 against LSC North competition.

(4 McKenzie Sickler) Sickler came alive to go 2-for-3 with two RBIs to help MSU to a 10-2 run-rule win over Southwestern Oklahoma in five innings Saturday in Weatherford. The senior from Troy has started the last 24 games at shortstop after opening the season as the team's starting first baseman.

(5 Nicki Duff) Duff delivered a strong effort in Midwestern's sweep of Southwestern Oklahoma last weekend. The Plano native hit the ball with authority slapping a pair of triples while hitting .455 (5-for-11) with two runs and two RBIs.

(6 Elena Bennett) Bennett continues to lead the Lone Star Conference with a .479 batting average, but displayed a new edge to her game Saturday at Southwestern Oklahoma. The sophomore lined a shot over the drawn-in fielders for her first collegiate triple. Bennett finished the series going 8-for-12 (.667) with four runs, an RBI and three stolen bases.

(7 Kallie Noble) Noble appeared in two of MSU's three game last weekend at Southwestern Oklahoma and scored two runs. The freshman from Albany has seen action - primarily as a pinch runner - in 27 games this season.

(9 Alyson Reynolds) Reynolds slammed two homers and a double to drive in five runs to help Midwestern State to a sweep of Southwestern Oklahoma last weekend in Weatherford. The senior first baseman raised her season average to .351 with five doubles, a triple and five homers for 24 RBIs.

(10 Mallory Mooney) Mooney hit .417 (5-for-12) and drove in four runs to help Midwestern to a weekend sweep of Southwestern Oklahoma. The junior third baseman is hitting .450 (9-for-20) during her current six-game hitting streak with three doubles and six RBIs.

(12 Carey Campbell) Campbell appeared in two games as a pinch runner while regaining health. The Albuquerque native has been productive at the plate this season hitting .259 with three doubles and three homers with 14 RBIs. Campbell has drawn 19 walks for a .394 on-base percentage.

(14 Courtney Bingham) Bingham has missed the last 19 games with injury after going for multiple hits in six of her last nine games. The sophomore from Arlington ranks second in the nation with five triples and is enjoying a stellar campaign hitting .453 with six doubles, five triples and two homers while driving in a team-high 32 runs.

(15 Amanda Potysman) Potysman drove in runs in each of Midwestern's wins last weekend at Southwestern Oklahoma. The versatile senior made her first three starts at second base this season after also making starts at first base (2), shortstop (18), left field (6) and right field (7). Potysman crushed her sixth homer of the season as the second of back-to-back homers with Alyson Reynolds in Saturday's second game against the Bulldogs.

(16 Kim Jerrick) Jerrick moved into the No. 3 hole and instantly drove in three runs in MSU's doubleheader sweep of Southwestern Oklahoma Saturday afternoon. The frosh is enjoying a stellar season hitting .393 with six doubles and nine homers while driving in 37 runs.

(17 Kristina Gutierrez) Gutierrez has been untouchable in LSC North play with a 3-0 mark with a 0.35 ERA while allowing one run on 10 hits in 20 innings during divisional play with 33 strikeouts and one walk. The Pearland native notched her 10th shutout of the season delivering a three-hit shutout of Southwestern Oklahoma Saturday afternoon. Gutierrez has allowed three hits or less in 10 of her 19 starts this season.

(24 Courtney Ford) Ford saw her first game action since Feb. 13 when she pinch-ran and scored a run in MSU 11-1 win over Texas Woman's April 3 in the LSC Crossover in San Angelo. The freshman from Graham has now appeared in eight games while hitting .429 with a pair of RBIs.

(25 Brittney Tanner) Tanner surrendered two runs and two hits in the first inning of Saturday's second game at Southwestern Oklahoma, then rallied for four hitless innings to run her season record to a remarkable 23-3. The senior of Burkburnett's prowess in the circle has been well documented with consecutive LSC North Pitcher of the Week honors, but is coming on strong at the plate. Tanner is hitting .579 (11-for-19) during her current and season-best six-game hitting streak with a double, a homer and three RBIs. Tanner belted her career-best fourth home run of the season Saturday at Southwestern Oklahoma.

About the Pioneers

Texas Woman's snapped out of an 0-5 showing at the Lone Star Conference Crossover by taking two out of three games from Abilene Christian last weekend in Denton.

TWU has fared much better at Pioneer Field where it boasts an 11-4 mark. The Pioneers are 12-14 outside of Denton.

Texas Woman's boast a dangerous, speedy lineup led by junior catcher Tiffany Weise who is hitting .412 with 13 doubles and two homers while driving in 27 runs.

But freshman shortstop Bailey Vrazel fronts the speed express with a .385 average with an NCAA Division II best 54 stolen bases while sophomore outfielder/pitcher Kayla Williams (30 stolen bases), junior outfielder Addison Staley (23 stolen bases) and freshman Kaylyn Vranich (14 stolen bases) add to the pressure that has resulted in 143 thefts as a team this season.

Williams represents TWU's top option in the circle posting an 8-5 mark with a 3.20 ERA, while sophomore Lizzy Kelly is 9-3 with a 3.26 ERA.

About the Series

Midwestern State and Texas Woman's University meet for the 21st and 22nd time Tuesday night at Pioneer Field.

The Mustangs own a commanding 16-4 edge in the series and have won the last four and 15 of the last 16 meetings with the lone loss coming by a 9-1 count in their last visit to Pioneer Field on Feb. 24, 2009.

MSU has beaten TWU twice this season including an 8-0 victory on Feb. 18 in the MSU Invitational and an 11-1 win on April 3 at the LSC Crossover in San Angelo.

MSU is 5-2 all time against TWU at Pioneer Field.

-- MSUMustangs.com --

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Players Mentioned

#6 Elena Bennett: OF; 5' 8"; Sophomore; L/R

#14 Courtney Bingham: OF; 5' 9"; Sophomore; L/L

#12 Carey Campbell: IF; 5' 5"; Sophomore; R/R

#3 Megan Chartier: OF; 5' 3"; Sophomore; L/R

#5 Nicki Duff: OF; 5' 6"; Junior; L/R

#17 Kristina Gutierrez: P; 5' 5"; Senior; R/R

#16 Kim Jerrick: C; 5' 10"; Freshman; R/R

#10 Mallory Mooney: 3B; 5' 8"; Junior; R/R

#19 Katie Petersen: P; 5' 6"; Senior; S/R

#15 Amanda Potysman: UT; 5' 5"; Senior; R/R

Players Mentioned

#6 Elena Bennett
: 5' 8"; Sophomore; L/R
: OF

#14 Courtney Bingham
: 5' 9"; Sophomore; L/L
: OF

#12 Carey Campbell
: 5' 5"; Sophomore; R/R
: IF

#3 Megan Chartier
: 5' 3"; Sophomore; L/R
: OF

#5 Nicki Duff
: 5' 6"; Junior; L/R
: OF

#17 Kristina Gutierrez
: 5' 5"; Senior; R/R
: P

#16 Kim Jerrick
: 5' 10"; Freshman; R/R
: C

#10 Mallory Mooney
: 5' 8"; Junior; R/R
: 3B

#19 Katie Petersen
: 5' 6"; Senior; S/R
: P

#15 Amanda Potysman
: 5' 5"; Senior; R/R
: UT